umbia Sunday evening for the championship. | Forum

PHILADELPHIA -- Too worried about his own draft night, Jake Virtanen didnt hear about his hometown Vancouver Canucks trading Ryan Kesler until late Friday. Samson Ebukam Womens Jersey . Of course he paid attention when he saw the Canucks kept the No. 6 pick. "I just tried to shake it off and try not to worry about it," Virtanen said. The next player up after the consensus top five of Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Bennett and Michael Dal Colle, Virtanen got his "dream come true" when the Canucks used that sixth overall pick on him. "Its pretty surreal for me," the six-foot left-winger said. "Still trying to soak it in. Its an amazing feeling." Virtanen, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., becomes yet another piece of the Trevor Linden/Jim Benning retooling project on the day Kesler was sent to the Anaheim Ducks and defenceman Jason Garrison to the Tampa Bay Lightning. So does Sault Ste. Marie centre Jared McCann, taken with the No. 24 pick the Canucks got as part of the Kesler deal. Unlike centre Nick Bonino and defenceman Luca Sbisa, whom the Canucks got from Anaheim, and Derek Dorsett, acquired from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick, Virtanen seems like a long-term project. Not only could he probably use some more time with the WHLs Calgary Hitmen, but he had shoulder surgery in May and is targeting mid-October to be cleared to take contact. "If its not mid-October, I think I just want to be 100 per cent healthy," Virtanen said. "Im not going to rush anything. I just want to be healthy and be able to play my best game." Virtanen, a power forward who NHL Central Scoutings Peter Sullivan compares to Jarome Iginla, showed some of his best hockey this past season as a point-a-game player. He was also tied as Canadas leading scorer at the world under-18 championship. All that didnt mean Virtanen went into draft day relaxed and confident. He tossed and turned Thursday night worrying. Virtanen wondered if the shoulder injury would cause him to drop a few spots, but he hoped it wouldnt a big deal. Still, he was anxious about where hed get taken. "I kind of just sat at the hotel just sweating," Virtanen said. "The day was pretty crazy." Not just for him but the Canucks organization given the flurry of trades. Vancouver wrapped up its haul for Kesler by taking McCann, ranked 10th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, with the 24th pick. McCann, a native of Stratford, Ont., had 62 points in 64 games last season and is considered a gifted playmaker. John Johnson Jersey . The commissioners office said Friday that Sears tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone. Sears will be 23 in March. He signed with the Braves in June 2013 out of Arizona Christian, an NAIA school, and is on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves. Cooper Kupp Rams Jersey . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- It was a game neither skip wanted to play, but a series of missed shots by Quebec gift-wrapped the bronze-medal match for Manitoba Sunday at the Canadian mens curling championship. Manitobas Jeff Stoughton won 9-5 in nine ends after scoring two in the first and stealing two in the second on a missed Quebec runback at the Tim Hortons Brier. He stole another in the third on a gentle Quebec hit that overcurled and two more in the fourth on Jean-Michel Menards tap-back attempt that barely brushed Manitobas stones. It put Manitoba up 7-0 going into five. Menard drew for one finally in five and raised his arm in a good-natured salute to the applause of the half-filled arena. He let alternate Pierre Charette skip eight and he stole two to keep the game going when Stoughton missed a hit for one. Manitoba also put alternate Garth Smith in at lead. Neither skip was up for the game and both suggested it shouldnt even be part of the Brier. "I was personally totally mentally exhausted," said Menard. "Playing two back-to-back games, having only five hours sleep because of the time change . . .We werent really focused, expecially me, and it cost us early in a few ends." Stoughton minimized the win andd said they werent really focused either. Samson Ebukam Youth Jersey. "We got lucky in the first end. If he makes his shot they probably steal two and they win the game," he said. "Its a disappointing game to play because youre not going to win the Brier. Its a game that Quebec and Manitoba didnt want to play. Its not a game that anyone wants to play." Menard agreed. "Ill try to be nice, but this game shouldnt exist, its useless," he said. Stoughton said the winner of the 3-4 playoff game should decide the bronze medal. That would have seen Quebec take it, since they beat Manitoba to qualify for the semifinal. Menards five-game winning streak overcame his weak 3-4 start at the Brier to get him into fourth spot and the playoffs. He then defeated Stoughton 7-6 Saturday as missed shots allowed Quebec to steal two for a three-point lead in their playoff game. But he lost 9-8 in the semifinal later Saturday to Alberta and Kevin Koe, who plays John Morris and British Columbia Sunday evening for the championship. Stoughton finished in a three-way tie for the lead at the Brier at 9-2 but the way the tiebreaking formula was applied and pushed him out of the 1-2 playoff game, which B.C. took over Alberta. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '